New home technology options are cooler, more energy efficient

With today's focus on saving the environment by using less energy, one easy way to cut your home energy consumption - and, in turn, your energy costs - is by using more efficient technology products.

When you're planning to update your home's look, you should consider choices that not only add beauty but also upgrade your home's energy efficiency. There's no need to sacrifice style for practicality. Today's modern fixtures can be both lovely and energy saving.

But how do you find energy-saving or energy-efficient options for your home? Where do you begin to look for new technologies that will enhance your lifestyle without costing you a bundle?

Today's home-renovation outlets are loaded with merchandise that boasts new, greener technologies. You'll know them by the ENERGY-STAR logo (the prominent blue rectangle with the white lowercase script and white-outlined star). The ENERGY STAR means these products - everything from energy-efficient light bulbs to heavy-duty washer-and-dryer units - is approved as an energy-saving device and meets stringent ratings criteria.

ENERGY STAR-rated products help protect our environment and slash your energy bills - thereby protecting your wallet. ENERGY STAR, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, is supported by the federal government. Its aim is to promote the development and implementation of energy-efficient products. In its use of ENERGY STAR-rated products, the American public cut back on greenhouse-gas emissions equivalent to those produced by 27 million cars in 2007 alone. That translates to a whopping $16 billion in utility-bill savings in that one year alone!

Started in 1992 as a voluntary EPA labeling program, ENERGY STAR has become one of the most widely recognized designations consumers look for in shopping for energy-efficient products. Computer monitors and CPUs were the first products to be labeled with the logo.

Over the following three years, other office machines earned ENERGY STAR ratings, along with residential heating and cooling equipment. In 1996, the Department of Energy came on board, enabling the addition of dozens of new categories of ENERGY STAR-rated products. These include lighting, home electronics, major appliances, office equipment and more. Now encompassing more than 50 separate product categories, the ENERGY STAR label has even been expanded to include new residential and business/industrial construction.

Products bearing the ENERGY STAR logo deliver performance that is equivalent - or superior - to comparable models, while saving money and expending less energy. Like the Underwriters' Laboratories (U-L) logo from your parents' or grandparents' day, the ENERGY STAR logo is among the most familiar and trusted logos in the marketplace today.

Relying on the ENERGY STAR logo when shopping for products for your home or business, you can save about one third on your energy bills and that's without having to give in on comfort or features. Products that bear the ENERGY STAR meet stringent government-established energy-efficient guidelines. As you consider renovations, upgrades or improvements to your home or office, you can go green by choosing ENERGY STAR tools, merchandise and resources to complete the project.

An energy-efficient ceiling fan is an excellent - and low-cost - money saver! With a small initial investment, you can cut your energy bills by knowing how to efficiently run the fan in hot and cold weather. During the warmer months, run the fan counterclockwise; in colder months, reverse the motor and run the fan (clockwise) on a low speed to force the warm air near the ceiling down into the room. And don't forget to adjust your thermostat to account for the extra heat.

For more energy-saving tips (and an excellent source of ENERGY STAR lighting options for your home or business) visit Illumenate - www.illumenate.com. They've got long-lasting LED and compact fluorescent bulbs for every room in your home plus a broad range of energy-efficient ceiling fans and energy-saving lighting fixtures. With more than 30 years in the business, this family-owned company has built a solid reputation on delivering great value, personal service and dependable advice. When it comes to lighting, trust Illumenate for your energy-efficient home or office installation or upgrade needs.